Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Deknyaka’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Chrysanthemum  plant named ‘Deknyaka’, characterized by its small single-type inflorescences with white-colored ray florets and green-colored disc florets; strong and upright flowering stems; freely branching and flowering habit; early and uniform flowering response; and good postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Chrysanthemum×morifolium.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DEKNYAKA’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Chrysanthemum×morifolium,commercially grown as a cut flower and hereinafter referred to by thename ‘Deknyaka’.

The new Chrysanthemum plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Hensbroek, The Netherlands. The objectiveof the breeding program is to create new freely flowering single-typeChrysanthemum plants with unique ray floret coloration and excellentpostproduction longevity.

The new Chrysanthemum plant originated from a cross-pollination made bythe Inventor in Hensbroek, The Netherlands on Sep. 18, 2007 of aproprietary selection of Chrysanthemum×morifolium identified as codenumber 06.51771.02, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with aproprietary selection of Chrysanthemum×morifolium identified as codenumber 06.48712.01, not patented. The new Chrysanthemum plant wasdiscovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant fromwithin the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlledgreenhouse environment in Hensbroek, The Netherlands on Apr. 5, 2008.

Asexual reproduction of the new Chrysanthemum plant by terminal cuttingsin a controlled greenhouse environment in Hensbroek, The Netherlandssince April, 2008, has shown that the unique features of this newChrysanthemum plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Deknyaka’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Deknyaka’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum:

-   -   1. Small single-type inflorescences with white-colored ray        florets and green-colored disc florets.    -   2. Strong and upright flowering stems.    -   3. Freely branching and flowering habit.    -   4. Early and uniform flowering response; plants flower about 38        to 41 days after the start of photoinductive treatments.    -   5. Good postproduction longevity; plants maintain good substance        for about three weeks in an interior environment.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ from plants of the female parentselection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have larger inflorescences        than plants of the female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum flower earlier than plants of        the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ from plants of the male parentselection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have smaller leaves than        plants of the male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have larger inflorescences        than plants of the male parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum flower later than plants of        the male parent selection.    -   4. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum and the male parent selection        differ in ray floret color as plants of the male parent        selection have pink-colored ray florets.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants ofChrysanthemum×morifolium ‘Deklindi White’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat.No. 17,815. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Hensbroek, TheNetherlands, plants of the new Chrysanthemum differed from plants of‘Deklindi White’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum were more vigorous than        plants of ‘Deklindi White’.    -   2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum were more freely branching        than plants of ‘Deklindi White’.    -   3. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum flowered about three days        later than plants of ‘Deklindi White’.    -   4. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum were more freely flowering        than plants of ‘Deklindi White’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Chrysanthemum plant. These photographs show the colors astrue as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions ofthis type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the colorvalues cited in the detailed botanical description which accuratelydescribe the colors of the new Chrysanthemum plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of atypical flowering stem of ‘Deknyaka’ grown as a spray type.

The photograph on the second sheet comprises close-up views of the upper(top of photograph) and lower surfaces (bottom of photograph) of typicalinflorescences and leaves of ‘Deknyaka’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown during the summer in Hensbroek, TheNetherlands, under commercial practice in a glass-covered greenhouse.Plants were initially given two weeks of long day/short night treatmentsfollowed by short day/long night treatments to induce flower initiationand development. During the production of the plants, day temperaturesranged from 18° C. to 25° C., night temperatures ranged from 20° C. to22° C. and light levels were about 7 kilolux. Plants were pinched onetime and were eight weeks from planting when the photographs and thedescription were taken. In the following description, color referencesare made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition,except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum×morifolium ‘Deknyaka’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Chrysanthemum×morifolium identified as code number            06.51771.02, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Chrysanthemum×morifolium identified as code number            06.48712.01, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About four days at 20° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About six days at 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 13 days            at 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 15 days            at 20° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; light brown in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching, moderately dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Appearance/growth habit.—Herbaceous single-type cut flower            that is typically grown as a spray-type; moderately vigorous            growth habit.        -   Flowering stem description.—Aspect: Erect. Length: About            60 cm. Spray diameter: About 15 cm to 18 cm. Diameter: About            5 mm to 6 mm. Lateral branch length: About 20 cm to 30 cm.            Internode length: About 2 cm. Texture: Finely pubescent;            longitudinally ridged. Color: Close to 144A.        -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate; simple. Length:            About 3.5 cm to 7 cm. Width: About 1.5 cm to 3 cm. Apex:            Rounded to cuspidate. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Palmately            lobed, serrate to crenate; sinuses divergent to parallel.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent, slightly            rough; veins prominent on lower surface. Venation pattern:            Pinnate, reticulate. Color: Developing leaves, upper            surface: Close to 137C. Developing leaves, lower surface:            Close to 137D. Fully developed leaves, upper surface: Close            to N137C; venation, close to 148C. Fully developed leaves,            lower surface: Close to 147B; venation, close to 147B to            147C. Petiole: Length: About 5 mm to 15 mm. Diameter: About            1.5 mm to 2.5 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:            Slightly rough. Color, upper surface: Close to 146C. Color,            lower surface: Close to 146D.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance.—Single-type inflorescence form with            oblong-shaped ray florets; inflorescences borne on            terminals, arising from leaf axils; ray and disc florets            develop acropetally on a capitulum.        -   Fragrance.—Slightly fragrant.        -   Flowering response.—Under natural conditions, plant flower            in the autumn/winter in the Northern Hemisphere; at other            times of the year, inflorescence initiation and development            can be induced under short day/long night conditions (at            least 13.5 hours of darkness); early and uniform flowering            response; plants exposed to eight days of long day/short            night conditions after planting followed by photoinductive            short day/long night conditions flower about 38 to 41 days            later when grown as a spray-type.        -   Postproduction longevity.—In an interior environment,            inflorescences and foliage will maintain good color and            substance for about three weeks; inflorescences persistent.        -   Quantity of inflorescences.—Freely flowering habit; when            grown as a spray type, about 95 inflorescences per flowering            stem develop.        -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 2 cm to 2.5 cm. Depth            (height): About 1 cm. Disc diameter: About 7 mm to 9 mm.            Receptacle height: About 2.5 mm to 3 mm. Receptacle            diameter: About 3 mm. Receptacle color: Close to 144B.        -   Inflorescence buds.—Shape: Oblate. Height: About 2 mm.            Diameter: About 4 mm. Color: Between 144A and 137C.        -   Ray florets.—Length: About 8 mm to 12 mm. Width: About 4 mm            to 6 mm. Shape: Oblong. Apex: Rounded. Base: Attenuate.            Margin: Entire. Angle: Initially upright to close to about            30° from vertical. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:            Smooth, glabrous; satiny. Number per inflorescence: About 24            arranged in about two whorls. Color: When opening, upper and            lower surfaces: Close to NN155D. Fully opened, upper and            lower surfaces: Close to NN155D.        -   Disc florets.—Shape: Fused tubular, elongated. Apex:            Dentate. Length: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 0.5 mm to 1 mm.            Number per inflorescence: About 200, massed at the center.            Color: Apex: Close to 144C. Mid-section: Close to 5B. Base:            Close to 145D.        -   Involucral bracts.—Length: About 5 mm to 7 mm. Width: About            3 mm to 4 mm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Rounded. Base: Rounded to            truncate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:            Smooth, glabrous. Number per inflorescence: About 20 to 25            arranged in about two to three whorls. Color, upper surface:            Close to 137A. Color, lower surface: Close to N137B.        -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 6 cm. Length,            fourth peduncle: About 7 cm. Length, seventh peduncle: About            8 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm. Angle: Erect to about 30° from            vertical. Strength: Moderately strong to strong. Texture:            Slightly pubescent; longitudinally ridged. Color: Close to            146B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Not observed. Gynoecium:            Present on both ray and disc florets. Style length: About            3 mm. Style color: Close to 145D. Stigma color: Close to            154A.        -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production has not been observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common to    Chrysanthemums has not been observed on plants grown under    commercial conditions.

1. A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Deknyaka’ asillustrated and described.